Sutherland will line-up two horses in the feature at Albury with Real Key and Azaryah to give the Wagga horseman just his second and third runners in the Country Championships.

A decision last year to put more emphasis into targeting the lucrative SDRA feature coincided with Real Key's emergence as one of his stable's most promising prospects.

Real Key will carry the top weight of 59 kilograms on Saturday with gun apprentice jockey Tyler Schiller to ride from barrier three.

Sutherland says everything is in order for Real Key's crack at the Country Championships.

"I'm super happy with the draw. I wanted inside five so I couldn't be happier with that," Sutherland said.

"This has been the plan for 12 months and everything has gone exactly to plan. He's looking a million dollars and feels a million dollars.

"We gave him time, he's matured and now I'm hoping we'll get rewarded."

Sutherland's second representative is the comeback queen, Azaryah.

She was sidelined for close to two years before returning from injury to win her first three races for Sutherland through November and December.

While she is a staying mare looking for further, her maiden win was over 1400m and Sutherland believes Azaryah deserves her chance in the race.

"Drawing 10 is perfect for her, she goes forward but takes two or three strides to go forward," he said.

"We'll definitely be going forward to be on the bunny. She's at her minimum (distance) but having said that, her best ever work was the other day here.

"She's only had five or six starts for me and come so far so I'm really looking forward to see what she does on Saturday."

Michael Heagney will take the ride on Azaryah in the absence of the injured Mick Travers. Sutherland expects to see the mare leading.

"To give her every opportunity, that's the way we've got to ride her," he said.

"Real Key can be wherever. You can ride him in front, you can ride him at the back. Ideally he'll be in the box seat and have a shot at them late. I'm not afraid to lead them up on him either.

"The good thing about him is that he handles all conditions so there should be no excuses there. Tyler is in form, he knows the horse well and he had a good trial the other day, so I'm happy with him."

Azaryah, after winning her first three for Sutherland, has been well beaten at two subsequent starts.

Real Key won two trials at Wagga, either side of an impressive first-up victory on his home track on Australia Day.

Sutherland admits he leans to Real Key.

"Real Key, probably, because he's dead set at his pet distance," he said.

"Azaryah is better over 1800, 2000 but I can't get her any better and she deserves her chance."

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